The only problem with trying to make reality fit your perception of the world is that sometimes reality doesn’t cooperate.

Rep. Jill Chambers has made it her personal mission to discredit MARTA, calling on a full audit last year in hopes to find evidence of financial impropriety and an inevitable, glorious “Ah Ha!” moment.  However, things didn’t work out that way.  Instead of expected incompetence – like that at say…GDOT – the state audit gave MARTA a clean bill of health.

With this news, long-time Atlanta business columnist Maria Saport is asking, nay telling, Chambers, to get over it and move on.

MARTA is facing enough challenges with declining sales tax revenues and increasing operating expenses without having to defend itself at every turn from a Chambers’ attack.

In fact, for the life of me, I don’t even understand why MARTOC exists in this day and age. Remember, the state of Georgia does not have any money in the game.

But will Chambers consent?

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported on this latest Forbes ranking yesterday, but I didn’t bite because honestly I’m getting a little tired with these things.  But hey, when your city ranks as #1 most toxic in the country, I guess that’s worth mentioning, right?

However, Atlanta could have never achieved such an elevated position without the help of a few neighbors.  From the Forbes article…

Crowded urban areas are often thought of as the most polluted, but the latter isn’t always caused by the former. While the Atlanta metro area takes top honors for toxicity, don’t blame the city alone. The Atlanta metro includes the cities of Sandy Springs and Marietta, the sites of chemical plants, metal coaters and concrete factories. The cities have toxic-release levels equal at or higher than those Atlanta, in spite of populations that are 15% and 13% the size of Atlanta’s, respectively.

“Hey you kids!  Get off my lawn!   No, seriously get off the lawn…that soil will melt your sneakers!”

Thanks to Eric for bringing this back onto my radar.

From her blog…

How does one thank the near-infinite energy of so many supportive neighbors? I’m humbled by and grateful for all of it. As many know, I have a certain affinity for hands-on community volunteerism and have always believed that harnessing the power of neighbors working together can yield amazing results. This election only strengthens that conviction.

At the same time, I recognize that much energy and enthusiasm was invested on both sides of the District 2 race. Kyle and I have worked together on neighborhood projects before and in a way, we were working together here as well – getting at the heart of what’s truly on people’s minds.

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From his blog…

It’s the morning after the election and a time for reflection. I won re-election to my third term on the Decatur City Commission with 69% of the vote. The widest margin of any of the city races. I deeply appreciate the community’s support and vote on my behalf. I will continue trying to do my best for Decatur.

I can’t tell you how I’ll vote on the issues, but I can tell you that I will do the research, ask questions, listen to what folks have to say, think about what I’m about to do, and use my best judgment.

Thank you.

Sent out in a press release this morning.  A more candid reaction can be found on his Twitter page.  (Those tweets have since been removed)

“I congratulate Patti Garrett for her win on Tuesday. I am proud our campaign. We fought a hard, clean campaign, based solely on the issues that face Decatur. This campaign began and now ends with my love and my commitment for our great city.

I want to thank all of our supporters, contributors, and especially the 1,372 people who voted in this race on Tuesday. It has been an amazing experience that I will never forget. Our campaign put together a coalition of neighbors from across District 2 over varying races, ethnicity, ages, sexual orientations and economic circumstances. Our campaign engaged the public, as turnout in District 2 was 82% higher than it was in the last municipal election in 2007.

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